Computers in cardiovascular investigation.

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Abstract
The practical feasibility of analyzing cardio-vascular measurements with the aid of a digital computer was explored with promising results. A systems-engineered transducer-computer link was developed to deal simultaneously with 6 intravascular pressure channels, an ecg channel, and a channel for cardiac output determinations by the indicator dilution method. The system offers considerable savings in time, increased presicion of data measurement, and greater facility in the mathematical analysis of results. The accuracy of 3 small proprietary integrator-computers for determination of the cardiac output by the dye dilution technique was assessed. Under favorable practical and technological conditions their precision of measurement was comparable with that of manually measured dye curves. Because of their simple rigid program arrangements, these small computers can be expected to produce precise results only when detailed attention is paid to their operating conditions. The combination of these small on-line monitors with off-line data storage and analysis by digital computation offers important advantages not only in routine or research cardiovascular investigations, but also in the monitoring of patients acutely ill with circulatory disorders.

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